A Thai truck driver who knocked down and killed a British couple on a round-the-world cycling trip was fined just £18, it has emerged.

Vorawong Sangkawat admitted at a provisional court causing the deaths of Peter Root and Mary Thompson by negligence.

According to Thai police, he bent down to pick up his hat and his Toyota pick-up veered from his lane into the hard shoulder where Mr Root and Ms Thompson were cycling.

While the offence can carry a ten-year jail term, the 25-year-old was handed a suspended two-year sentence and fined 1,000 baht (£18) after showing remorse, pleading guilty and because of his previous good character.

Details of his sentence emerged at an inquest in Guernsey into the deaths of Mr Root and Ms Thompson.

A post-mortem examination showed the couple, both 34, suffered severe head injuries consistent with a road traffic accident.

The inquest had been delayed over difficulties in obtaining details of the driver’s prosecution.

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Eventually, officials discovered Sangkawat had appeared in Chacheungsao provisional court in December. Mr Root and Ms Thompson left Guernsey in July 2011 and pedalled through Europe, the Middle East and China before reaching Thailand – their 23rd country.

Judge Philip Robey heard artist Mr Root and Ms Thompson had cycled through danger hotspots, such as Iran and Afghanistan, during their trip.

But they died in the collision in Phanom Sarakham district, east of Bangkok, on February 12 last year.

Judge Robey recorded a verdict of accidental death at the inquest last week.